Questions About The Cleaner (John Milton, #1)

by Mark Dawson (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (4)

Sophie Sparks It's best to read them in order. No author enjoys writing too much 'exposition'/explanation. It's almost a 'reward' for the readers who have followed …moreIt's best to read them in order. No author enjoys writing too much 'exposition'/explanation. It's almost a 'reward' for the readers who have followed from book one (and readers who have read books 1-4 don't really need an explanation as to why John Milton is angry at X or Y).

There are also minor events in book one and two that lead the protagonist to act in a certain way in book three, for example.

You can read them as stand-alones and/or out of order, but for a full and and more enjoyable overall experience, it's much better to start at book one. The whole 'journey' is better that way (and 'journey' is a word that this author hates. Haha).

Enjoy! :-) (less)

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Anyone who read any of the John Milton books by Mark Dawson, can you tell me how old John is supposed to be? Thanks!

Phil I believe from the history given in "The Cleaner" Milton is 40 years old +/- one year…moreI believe from the history given in "The Cleaner" Milton is 40 years old +/- one year(less)

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Is anyone put off of novels like this that use a famous name as a gimmick - John Milton in this case or, another example, a historical mystery where the detective is a brother of Shakespeare? I tend to turn away from writers that rely on such cheap gimmicks to sell their wares.

Prl Yes, a little. What’s worse is giving people names for which it’s impossible to know the pronunciation.

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A psychopath getting a conscience? Sounds implausible.

Asterope I have not read this yet (but I have read the prequel), but I'm assuming you're referring to the main character? He's not a psychopath. He is/was a go…moreI have not read this yet (but I have read the prequel), but I'm assuming you're referring to the main character? He's not a psychopath. He is/was a government sanctioned assassin, murder merely is part of his job description. Totally different motivations and reasoning between that and a psychopath or serial killer! Most people would not consider the Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who in his career killed 160 (confirmed by the Pentagon, no doubt the real number is higher) as a psychopath. He's NOT! But killing was part of his job description and he did it on behalf of the US government. The character in this book had a "career of state-sanctioned murder" - meaning the government sent him and told him who to kill. He's more like Jason Bourne than Hannibal Lecter. So no, it's not implausible for him to get a conscience. And the fact that he has PTSD induced by his career, that the past haunts him, also leans to him not being a psychopath. (less)

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